Refrigeration system



REFRIGERATION SYSTEM Filed Feb; 15,v y1941 s sheets-sheet 1 Evaporvor Jneph R. Zwickl lNVENTOR v BY ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1942. J. R.'zw|cKL REERIGERATION SYSTEM Filed Feb.' l5, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ON LUmCMvoQU dnmzphk Rv. Zwikl INVENTOR ATTORNEY Aug. 4, 1942, J. R. zwlcKKl.

REFRIGERATION SYSTEM Filed Feb. 1 5, 1941 s'sheets-sneet 5 ,r OO

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E Irc-goor@ for Jnsph Zwinkl v ATTORNEY Patented ,Y Aug. 4, 1942 Worthington :Pump

and Machinery. Corporation, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of Dela- Ware Application February 15, 1 941, serial No. 379,067

3 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration, and more 'particularly to a refrigerating system and apparatus lemploying a volatile liquid refrigerant, such refrigerant being evaporated inv an evaporator or cooler wherein the cooling medium is cooled; a compressorfor compressing therefrigerant vapor; and a condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerant vapor and returning it to the evaporator for re-evaporation.

In refrigerating systems of this typethe refrigerating vapor or gas discharged from the compressor is i'nva superheated. condition, thus requiring a certain amount of surface in the condenser for removing this superheat prior to condensation -of theI vapor, necessitating a larger and more expensive condenser for use in the system than would be required if the vapor or gas were deliveredto the condenser free of superheat.

An object of the present -invention is to provide means for saturating the compressed vapor and converting thesuperheat thereininto latent heat. Since the heat transfer rate from a superf heated vapor is considerably less than the heat transfer rate for a saturated vapor, a definite advantage will be obtained in such a refrigeration system in that less condensing surface will be required resulting in savings in space required 'and in cost of condenser, ora lower discharge pressure from the compressor will be required, re-

sulting in savings in space requirements, cost of A compressor, andpower required for its operaatlon.

With these and other objects in view, as may appear from the accompanying specification, thel invention consists of various features of construction and combination of parts,'which will be first described in connection' with the accompanying drawings. showing a refrigeration system of theV preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be speciflcally pointed out in the claims. I'

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a refrigerj ating system embodying the means for removing superheat from the compressed vapor prior to condensation.

Referring more particularlyto the drawings,

the refrigerating system illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 1 thereof comprises an evaporator I in which the refrigerant is vaporized for cooling a coolingV medium. The refrigerant vapor passes from the evaporator I into the'compressor 2, where it is compressed. From the compressor it is discharged, through the connection 2, into the condenser 4, where the compressed vapor is condensed, then returned to the vaporizer 'or cooler I for revaporization. I'he compressor illustrated inthe drawings is of the centrifugal type, driven by an velectric motor 5. However, the compressor may -be of any suitable type, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

In refrigeration systems of this type the compressed vapor dischargedby the compressor 2 is in a superheated condition.

tems, it requires additional surface in the condenser for removing the superheat.

The present invention embodies means for removing the superheat from the compressed refrigerant vapor prior to its entrance into the condenser' 4, consequently permitting the use' of a smaller and less expensive condenser than reheat ofthe vaporl is not removed.

A'pipe I0 communicates either with the connection between the condenser 4 and the evaporator I, or with the lowest `part of the condenser I,

so that part, or a limited supply of condensate from the condenser .will flow into and through the pipe I0 into the compressed vapor passing to f thecondenser I, The spraying of the condensate, in finely divided form, into the conduit and the compressed refrigerant vapor flowing -therethrough will lower the temperature of -the refrigerant vapor and remove the superheat therefrom, or convert the superheat into latent heat.

is much greater than the heat transfer rate of superheated vapor, condensation of the vsaturated compressed refrigerant vapors may be provided in a -condenser of smaller surface, resulting in `savings in cost of the condenser, in the cost of I circulating the cooling medium through the cim-A denser, and in space requirements for the system.

5I) A valve I2 is interposed in the pipe Ill and, as

shown in the drawings, is a solenoidoperated I valve of any approved type Whichmay be purchased upon the open market. The solenoid I3 of the valve structure I2 isconnected in circuit with the control circuit Il of the compressor mo- Containing such superheat, in the ordinary approved types of sysquired in 'the usual system wherein the super- As the heat transfer rate of saturated vapor started the valve l2 wm be opened, permitting the ow of the condensed refrigerant liquid through the pipe I and into the conduit 3.

When the motor is stopped, the solenoid I3 will ,be deenergized, permitting the closing 'of the valve I2.

`In the construction shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the condenser l is at suicient elevation above the conduit 3 to permit the condensed refrigerant to ow through the pipe I0 by force of gravity. However, in soineinstallations this will not be the case, and such an installation is illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 3 of the drawings the condenser 20 is shown as being below the level of the compressor 2l, so that the conduit which serves to convey the condensed liquid refrigerant from the lower part of the condenser into the conduit 22 through which the compressed vapor passes to the condenser is positioned in such manner that the liquid re- 5 yfrigerant will not ow vtherethrough by gravity.

Consequently the conduit-24, which serves to convey the condensed liquid refrigerant to the con-r .duit 22 to be sprayed into the superheated, com` pressed refrigerant vapor has a pump 25, of anyl suitable construction, imposed or connected compressor to the outlet or discharge of the compressor. `A valve 31 is interposed in the pipe Il and is shown Vas a hand operated valve, but it is to be understood that a solenoid operated valve such as the valves I2 or 21 may be utilized in lieu thereof, or that a hand operated valve may be utilized in lieu of the solenoid operated valves y I2 or 21 in the structures shown in Figures 1 and 3, without departing from the spirit of the pres-I ent invention.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or' artherein for the purpose of providing sufioient pressure to deliver thel condensed `liquid refrigerant to the conduit 22. The pump 25 isY shown as being operated by an approved type of electricrmotor 26. A valve 2111s interposed 24, as is the form shown in Figure 1, and this valve 21 may be the same as such'valve I2, i. e. a solenoid actuated valveof any approved type obtainable upon the open pressor 2l, so that when the compressor- Y2l is started the valve 21 will be opened and the pump.

25 will be energized and, conversely, when the compressor 2I is stopped the pump 254 will be stopped and the valve 21 closed.

In the construction shown,in Figures 1 to 3 o the drawings the condensed liquid refrigerant is delivered from` the condenser into. the conduit connectingthe discharge of the compressor with the condenser. However, it may be desirable and advantageous to deliver this heat removing liquid refrigerant directly into the compressor itself. 'Such a construction is illustrated in Figure-i of the drawings.

In the system shown in Figure 4 the com pressor 30 compresses' the refrigerant vapor,

which is delivered thereto from the evaporator Thecompressed refrigerant vapor is disof the compressori. Thus the compressed vapor is saturated and its' superheat removed during its passage through the final volute ofthe rangement of partsshown, but that they may be widely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerating system in which a. volatile refrigerant is vaporized, the vapor compressed, and the compressed vapor Acondensed and `re turned to be again vaporized, the combination with a condenser, a compressor and a connection between the compressor and condenser for delivering compressed vapor to the condenser, of a conduit for receiving a limited quantity of liquid refrigerant from said condenser and spraying it into the compressed refrigerant vapor after the vapor has been fully compressed and prior to its entrance into the condenser, a valve in said conduit,v and means operated upon starting and stopping of the compressor for operating said valve. v l ,i

2. In a refrigerating system in which a volatile refrigerant is vaporized, the vapor compressed andthe compressed vapor condensed and returned to be again vaporized, the combination withv a condenser, a compressor, and a connection between the compressor and the condenser for delivering compressed vapor to the condenser, of a conduit for receiving a limited quantity of liquid refrigerant from said condenser, a pump in said conduit for forcing the liquid refrigerant v therethrough and spraying it into the compressed with a condensera compressor, and aconnection between the compressor and the condenser for.

delivering compressed vapor to the condenser, of a conduit for receiving a limited quantity of liq- .uid refrigerant from said condenser,- a pump in said conduit for forcing the liquid refrigerant therethrough and spraying it into the compressed refrigerant vapor after the vapor has been fully compressed and prior to its entrance into the condenser, a valve in said conduit, valve operating" means roperated upon starting and stopping of the compressor for opening and closing said valve, andA means operable upon starting and stopping of the compressor for starting and -stopping said pump.

JOSEPH R. ZWICKL. 

